Climbing toy



Aug. 15, 1950 H. C. TUNSTALL CLIMBING TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed May 11,1945 Ill-Wm C TIM/5 TALL Jan/W ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 15 1950 v UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE I t T r 2,518,840

CLIMBING 'roY Henry C. Tunstall, Lake City, S. 0.

Application May 11, 1945, Serial No. 593,262

2 Claims. 1 This present invention relates to figure toys and itsgeneral object is to provide a toy to simulate a plurality of monkeys orthe like and their actions in climbing a rope.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a toy of simple,sturdy and inexpensive construction.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time particularlyenumerated, will be understood from the following disclosure of thesame.

This invention also consists in certainother features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which- Figure 1is a front view of the preferred embodiment of my invention, and

Figure 2 is a horizontal, transverse section on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

In the drawing numerals 2 and 3 denote a pair of base members which aresecured in crossed relationship and disposed in the same plane to restflush on a flat supporting surface, not shown. To the top surface ofmember 3 are secured by suitable fastening means the lower ends of apair of outer column 5 and a pair of inner columns 6, the latter beingsituated between the former and all four being of equal height' To thetop ends of the columns 5, 8 is secured a beam 1 which completes therigid frame 4 of the toy.

In the center of the beam is a vertically dispised hole in which theupper portion of a shaft 8 is journaled. The top end of the shaft 8extends above the beam and carries a knob 9 of substantially conicalshape. The bottom end IU of the shaft 8 is conical and is seated in acorrespondingly shaped bearing II which is formed in the central topportion of member 3.

This shaft 8 carries at an intermediate point a cruciform fiy cross [2performing a function analogous to that of the fly wheel of a steamengine i. e. of storing kinetic energy of rotation. The cross I 2consists of two members crossing one another at right angles and incountersunk relation.

A pedal bar 13 of a length somewhat less than the horizontal distancebetween the inner columns 8 has a central aperture M for rotatablyengaging on the shaft 8 and is at either end supported by the end of astring or cord 15 the intermediate portion of which is threaded throughan aperture a in the shaft 8. I

The-intermediate portion of a cord [6 is wound a'number of turns aroundthe shaft 8, below the fly cross l2 The complementary end portions Iliaand l6b of the cord l6 extend laterally in opposite directions from theshaft 8 and are each threaded through a guiding eye l! attached to theinner side of one of the inner'columns 6 and just below the fly crossI2. This arrangement prevents the'fly cross 12 during rotation of thelatter and the shaft 8 from touching the cord portions [6a and l6b whichextend downwardly and inwardly from the eyes I! towards the shaft 8.From the eyes I! the cord portions Mia and l6b extend upwardly along theinner sides of columns 6 and are each threaded through a guide sleeve 18fixed in an aperture in the respective inner column 6 and registeringwith the other sleeve l8. From the sleeves [8 on the outer sides of thecolumns 6, the cord portions Ilia and I61) extend downwardly between thecolumns 5 and B and each carries at its depending, free end a figure l9simulating the appearance of a monkey climbing up the cord portions I60,or [6b or other animal able to climb. Thus, each cord portion 16a andI6!) includes an inner and an outer lap disposed longitudinally of theframe 4.

In order to operate the toy, the child holds the knob 9 of the shaft 8in its left hand to prevent the same from turning and rotates the pedalbar I3 around the shaft '8 with its right hand. This manipulation of thepedal bar l3 coils the intermediate portion of the cord l6 around theshaft 8. If then the pedal bar I 3 is pulled or pushed downward usingtwo fingers one on each side of the shaft 8, the string [5 thereofunwinds itself from the shaft 8 by rotating the latter with the resultthat the intermediate portion of the cord 16 is wound on the shaft 8thereby exerting an inward pull on the adjacent ends of the cordportions 16a and lfib to cause the figures [9 to be pulled upwardly. Themomentum of rotation of the shaft 8 will coil the pedal bar string l5around the shaft 8 in the opposite direction so that when the pedal barI3 is again pressed downwardly the shaft 8 will be revolved in theopposite direction to unwind the cord l8 therefrom to allow the figuresI9 to move downward by gravity. Quick up and down movement of the pedalbar I3 will cause the figures l9 to go through some very amusing antics.If the child after moving the pedal bar [3 up and down in quicksuccession releases the latter, the figures l9 will continue theaforedescribed movements until the momentum of the shaft 8 is spent.

From the above description, it is believed that the construction andoperation of this device will be clear to those skilled in the art.

Various changes in the devices and detailed parts of the toy could bemade without departing from thescope of the inventionas' defined in thefollowing claims. It is therefore intended that all matter shown in theaccompanying drawing and described in the preceding specification shallbe considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim and desire to secure'zbyPLetters Patent is:

1. A toy of the character described comprising an elongated, uprightframe, a shaft journaled in said frame and longitudinally thereof, acord having an intermediate portion wound. a number of times about theshaft adjacent its lower end and provided with complementary endportions extending from said shaft and'slidably guided in said frame andeacheincluding lapped portions extending longitudinally of the frame,the terminalof each ofcsaid .endportions being disposed in adependingposition within the frame, .a figure supportedbyeach of saidterminalsof the cord for movement longitudinally of the frame tosimulatea climbing animal, .a string having an intermediate ,portion'extending through the shaft adjacent the "upper endlthereof andpro- 4vided with depending end portions, a bar rotatably and slidably engagingsaid shaft intermediate of its ends and having its ends connected to thedepending end of said string, and said depending portions of the stringbeing adapted to be wound in either direction about the shaft forrevolving the shaft when a pressure is exerted on the bar in a downwarddirection to wind the intermediate portion of the cord onto the lowerportion of the shaft or for unwinding it therefrom for causing thefigures to move longitudinally and vertically in the frame.

1 2. A toy as in claim 1, and a cross fixed to the -shaft andfunctioning as a flywheel for cooperation with the gravity pull exertedon the end poritions of the cord by the weight of the figures to causethe figures to be reciprocated longitudinally oftheframe until themomentum of the shaft: is spent.

HENRY C. TUNSTALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file ofthis patent:

"UNITED STATES PATENTS Wolff July 14, 1931

